Volunteer Spotlight
Clara was born & raised in Oak Park and she came to HOPES because she was intrigued by the mission, the passion behind it and the opportunity to provide direct service to the community. During her service term, she is looking forward to empowering her students with confidence in their reading skills. Clara believes that the most important qualities for being a good volunteer is having both positive leadership and listening skills. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the Chicago’s restaurant, thrifting and music scene. We are so excited to have Clara on our team!
Jacob is coming to HOPES all the way from Austin, Texas and he came to HOPES this Summer because he wanted to be part of the work of bridging the gap that lies between the intersections of education, homelessness and poverty. This Summer, he is looking forward to supporting our students’ with their academic needs as well as being a student himself, learning from everyone he interacts with. Jacob believes that being a volunteer means simply fulfilling the responsibility of giving back. In his free time, Jacob enjoys playing basketball, the saxophone, ukulele, and Fortnite. We are excited to have Jacob on our team!
Jake grew up right outside Chicago and came to HOPES because he really enjoys tutoring and the opportunity to work so closely with students as part of the team. This Summer, he is most excited to see how HOPES operates both on-site and behind the scenes, to build a deeper appreciation for all the work that goes into making the programs run. Jake believes that being a good volunteer means doing your best at whatever place you are devoting your time to as well as having an open mind, being flexible & willing to learn along the way. In his spare time, he enjoys ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and playing the drums. We are excited to have Jake on our team!
Laflanicea is a Chicago native and is a recurring Americorps service member! She came to HOPES because she wants to learn more about the issue of homelessness and gain experience with working with students experiencing it. To her, the work of providing children with educational support is very important, especially when faced with housing insecurity and trauma. She is excited to serve the students and families in their time of need. Laflanicea believes that being a volunteer means giving your time and availability to serve the community because as individuals, we can help in a major way. Also, as a volunteer, you have a unique opportunity to learn and grow within yourself, as well as help others. In her free time, Laflanicea loves to swim, walk, dance and make her own press-on nail sets. We are excited to have Laflanicea on our team!
Lauren currently resides right outside Chicago by-way of California and she came to HOPES this Summer because she wants to do something valuable and impactful with her Summer break from school. This semester, she is looking forward to providing educational resources to HOPES students through her direct service . She is a firm believer that education should be treated as a right instead of a privilege and wants to be part of the solution of being a resource for students that are underserved. Lauren believes that being a volunteer means providing a beneficial service to those in need. In her free time, she enjoys watching 90s & early 2000s Rom Coms, spending quality time with my family and traveling. We are excited to have Lauren on our team!
Lisa is a Chicago native and she came to HOPES because the services that we provide for our families experiencing housing insecurity piqued her interest. Throughout the Summer, she is looking forward to supporting our students with fun and engaging programming as well as gaining insight into the work of social services professionals. Lisa believes that being a volunteer means being a team player, leading with positivity and serving to make an impact. In her free time, she enjoys watching a good movie that she can immerse herself in and watching a funny tv show that will give her a good laugh. We are excited to have Lisa on our team!
Stephanie is a Chicago native and her interest in HOPES began after learning that we are the only non-profit in Chicago that provides resources for children who are experiencing homelessness and supports them academically, socially, and emotionally. As a result, she knew she wanted to be part of the work we do! This Summer, she is looking forward to taking the students on enriching and fun field trips through the city. Stephanie believes that being a volunteer means helping others have the resources and support that everyone should have access to. In her free time, she enjoys shopping at Target, as it is her favorite and happy place. We are excited to have Stephanie on our team!
Tal is from right outside of Chicago and he came to HOPES because he felt that the work we do is important and a rewarding opportunity to be part of. This Summer semester, he is looking forward to learning more about trauma-informed education as a way to properly support our students as well as building relationships with them. Tal believes that being a volunteer is an opportunity to make life more meaningful by helping others, as it feels good to know you are making a difference. In his free time, he really enjoys cleaning kitchens because to him, it isn’t a chore but more of a hobby. We are excited to have Tal on our team!
